THE CERVICAL PLEXUS. 



1287 



3. The superficial cervical nerve (n. cutaneus colli) usually arises in com- 

 mon with the great auricular from the second and third, the third only, or from the 

 third and fourth cervical nerves (Fig. 1087). From the posterior margin of the sterno- 

 mastoid it passes almost directly forward over the middle of that muscle and under 



FIG. 1087. 



Supraorbital nerve 



Supratrochlear 

 nerve 



Temporal branch of facial 



Occipital branch of 

 great auricular 



Posterior auricular nerve 

 Small occipital nerve 



Branch of communication with facial 

 Cutaneous branch of III. cervical- 

 Great auricular nerve 



Communication between 

 cervical nerves and 

 spinal accessory 



Supraacromial branch 

 Supraclavicular branch 



Infraorbital 



branch of facial 



Buccal branch 



of facial 

 Communication with 



buccal branch of 



mandibular 

 Supramandibular 



branch of facial 



Inframandibular branch 

 of facial 



Superficial cervical nerve 



'Superficial descending branch 

 iprasternal branch 



Dissection showing superficial branches of cervical plexus, as well as parts of trigeminal, facial, spinal 

 accessory and great occipital nerves ; ear has been drawn forward. 



the platysma myoides and the external jugular vein. It perforates the deep cervical 

 fascia near the anterior border of the sterno-mastoid and divides into (a) an upper 

 and (^) a lower set of branches. 



a. The upper branches (rr. superiores) form an extensive inosculation with the inframandib- 

 ular branch of the facial nerve, after which they pierce the platysma and supply the integument 

 of the neck as far forward as the median line and as far up as the inferior margin of the mandible. 



b. The lower branches ( rr. inferiors ) after piercing the platysma are distributed to the skin 

 of the lower part of the neck to the mid-line as far down as the sternum. 



